Elie Youan, born 7 April 1999 in France, is a 26-year-old forward who now finds himself in the green and white colours of Hibernian Football Club. Primarily a left-winger, Youan is a physical presence on the pitch at a height of 6ft (1.83m) and a weight of 12st 3lb (78kg). He sports the number 7 jersey as he patrols the left flank.
Youan began his professional career with Nantes in France's Ligue 1, joining as a trainee in July 2015. His introduction to first-team football, however, remained limited in the early stages of his career. During his debut season in 2018-19, Youan made just one appearance, followed by slightly more involvement the following season with five outings.
A loan move to Swiss Super League outfit St. Gallen in September 2020 signalled an upturn in Youan's game time. Over the 2020-21 season, he pulled on the St. Gallen jersey 29 times, netting five goals in the process. He continued this solid form into the following term, making 18 appearances and scoring six league goals. His performances were enough to convince the Swiss side to transfer him permanently from Nantes in July 2021, for a fee of around £450k.
However, it seems Swiss climes were not to Youan's liking long-term. A loan period in Belgium's Pro League with Mechelen followed in January 2022, where he turned out four times.
By July 2022, Youan swapped Belgium for Scotland and the cooler temperatures of Leith, joining Hibernian on loan. His debut 2022-23 season north of the border was relatively successful, punctuated by 36 league appearances and nine goals. His second season saw him remain a mainstay in the Hibs forward line, but his goal tally slipped slightly to five from 31 games. His current 2024-25 campaign performance mirrors a similar trend, having found the net twice in his first 13 outings.
Youan's form was enough to convince the Hibs hierarchy to make the loan move permanent in July 2023, securing his services from St. Gallen for around £500k. To date, his journey with the Edinburgh side resembles a somewhat rollercoaster ride of form. Nevertheless, he has shown glimpses of his talent over his tenure.
Beyond the Scottish Premiership, Youan has seen limited involvement in the domestic cups in the 2024-25 season. He made a single substitute appearance in both the League Cup and the Scottish Cup for Hibernian. Given his previous exploits in the league, there's every chance the exciting young forward may add to his cup tally before the close of the season.
